NHTSA Complaint #10232529 — 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS

FRONT STRUTS FAILED, AIR SUSPENSION (AIR LEAK) AND WHEELS COLLAPSED UP INTO WHEEL WELLS. THE FRONT WHEELS COULD NOT BE TURNED AT ALL; IF TURNED THE TIRES WOULD HAVE RUBBED ON THE WHEEL WELLS RESULTING IN SUDDEN DEFLATION. THIS COLLAPSE OCCURED AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE FOLLOWING 140 MILES OF INTERSTATE DRIVING. I BELIEVE THE LEAK OCCURED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AS THE COMPUTER INDICATED MY MPG HAD DROPPED 2 MPG COMPARED TO EARLIER IN THE DAY. THERE WERE NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE IN THE U.S. (SENT FROM GERMANY), INDICATING EITHER THESE NEVER FAIL AND THEREFORE SPARES NOT NEEDED OR FREQUENT FAILURES RESULTED IN LACK OF REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE REALLY SCARY PART IS THE THOUGHT OF BEING UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.